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Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever open their season on Saturday against the Dallas Wings. The matchup will feature the last four No. 1 overall picks in the WNBA Draft under the same roof.
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Clark was selected No. 1 overall by Indiana in the 2024 WNBA Draft, while Aliyah Boston, now in her fourth season with the Fever, was the franchise’s first-ever No. 1 pick back in 2023. On the Dallas side, Paige Bueckers, last year’s Rookie of the Year, and Azzi Fudd, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, are also set to make their regular-season debuts.
Both teams gave fans a preview of what’s to come during the preseason. In an April 30 game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Bueckers led all scorers with 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting, going 4-of-6 from three, while Clark topped Indiana with 21 points on 4-of-6 from the field and 11-of-13 from the free-throw line.
Ahead of Saturday’s opener, ESPN confirmed its full broadcast lineup for the game. Ryan Ruocco, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Rebecca Lobo, and veteran reporter Holly Rowe, returning for their 14th season together as ESPN’s lead broadcast trio, will be on the call.
Malika Andrews will host WNBA Countdown alongside Chiney Ogwumike, Andraya Carter, and Monica McNutt from Gainbridge Fieldhouse, with studio coverage beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET.
After the news was made official, Lobo took to X to express her excitement: “WNBA 30th”
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WNBA 30th !!! https://t.co/KvYAQjOP8B
— Rebecca Lobo (@RebeccaLobo) May 7, 2026
The announcement was no surprise to Fever fans. Lobo re-signed with ESPN in November 2025 in a multiyear deal, locking in a broadcast booth that has worked together across 14 WNBA seasons and six college basketball campaigns.
Continuity with Ruocco and Rowe was a key factor in Lobo’s decision to stay. “Continuing to work with Holly and Ryan was a big driver for me in terms of wanting to stay put at ESPN,” the former WNBA All-Star told Sports Business Journal.
Indiana fans in particular have grown accustomed to hearing Lobo on Fever broadcasts. The WNBA icon has been a vital presence for ESPN throughout the Fever’s rise and her track record calling Clark’s games has drawn consistent praise from a fanbase that has grown dramatically since Clark’s arrival in 2024.
Tip-off for the Wings-Fever opener is set for 1 p.m. ET on ABC, Disney+, and ESPN Deportes, followed by a second game featuring the Phoenix Mercury against the defending champion Las Vegas Aces at 3:30 p.m. ET.
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Related: Caitlin Clark Says 2025 Injury Gave Her ‘Renewed Perspective’
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This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 9:50 AM.